Rotterdam is lacking what others are not

Rotterdam is lacking what others are not

Rotterdam lacking what others aren’t

A while ago, a woman wrote in on how quiet our town of Rotterdam is [June 11 letter, "Rotterdam is not as nice as it used to be"]. I totally agree. Nice peaceful Rotterdam.

And then I suddenly found out why. We have absolutely and totally nothing going for us. Think about it. When was the last time you read about anything that we have, or had, that can honestly be worthwhile attending? A parade? What else? But on the other hand, let's go over what we do have.

How about the corner of Guilderland Avenue and Curry Road. An eyesore that the neighbors are still looking at because nobody wanted another drugstore. Curry Road Shopping Center? It may get done someday. Hamburg Street? Big deal. The old market is finally getting a makeover. After 15 years. And everyone is pounding their chest on that one.

The sand pit where we were supposed to have a new Little League park? That's a laugh. Mabee Farms? Beautiful place, if you can take old history every day. Every day you can read page after page about what Niskayuna, Saratoga, Glenville and the whole surrounding area is putting up. Rotterdam? We have our condos.

Has anyone been to Collins Park at all? Great. Every sport at all times. The music? Unbelievable. Anywhere from 500 people of all ages. I went to our music night recently -- on a paved parking lot behind the senior building, for maybe 75 people. Embarrassing?

I could go on and on, and I'm sure there are people who agree or otherwise. Still, when I go to other areas and see what we don't have, I'm a little red faced.

Anyway, I've lived in our quiet little town for over 50 years. So if I want fireworks, farmers market, dances, music, I'll leave town.

Ron Capullo

Rotterdam

Polk has experience for Family Court post

Re July 25 article, "Five seek Family Court bench": I am glad the paper decided to include an article regarding the candidates for the newly created third Family Court judgeship. However, the public deserves accurate information.

The article incorrectly indicates that county attorneys, such as a former county attorney who is running for the position, handle child custody cases in Family Court. They do not. In fact, the only cases handled by county attorneys representing the Department of Social Services (DSS) are child neglect and abuse cases brought by DSS.

Experience in each aspect of Family Court practice is incredibly important, as is experience representing both adults and children, not just a bureaucratic agency.

Jill S. Polk has all of this experience, plus the added benefit of having prosecuted unethical judges and having been appointed to be a special referee who sat on the Family Court bench, heard cases and made decisions. She also has worked as a senior court attorney for a Family Court judge.

Jill S. Polk is the most diverse and widely experienced candidate. I urge you to vote for her.

Susan Kopcha

Niskayuna

Bracelets save lives of people who wander

Re July 23 article, "Bracelets help find those who wander": I want to thank the Schenectady County Sheriff's Office and local autism advocates, including Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara and Heather Walker, advocacy director for the Autism Action Network of Schenectady County, for promoting the use of locator bracelets.

As the parent of a son with autism, I know how scary it is to have a child wander off. That fear is exacerbated by the fact that many special-needs children have trouble communicating. Beyond providing peace of mind, these locator bracelets can save lives.

It is also important to note that an investment in these bracelets is much more affordable than the resources that were traditionally needed to search for a child. In the past, a search for a missing child involved costly personnel time. The bracelet lets you search with fewer people.

I strongly support Assemblyman Santabarbara's efforts to expand the availability of these bracelets to more special-needs children. He is pushing for legislation that would provide municipalities with state funds to purchase the bracelets.

I encourage everyone to check out www.projectlifesaver.org to learn more about this program, which can serve anyone with Alzheimer's, autism or any other conditions that lead to wandering.

Cindy Barkowski

Schenectady

Political correctness is taking away rights

I don't know about you, but I am tired of hearing about political correctness.

The politicians are doing as they please, even if it isn't right, just to get votes. They are saying whatever helps to keep them in office. And the funny part is that the people are allowing it to happen.

Political correctness is taking away our rights to say what we want to. They are giving away our right to free speech. We have to get people in office who will stand for the people instead of political correctness.

James Maxfield

Scotia

Spa Co. prostitution sting is entrapment

The theater of fast-breaking television news on Monday [July 28] was followed with "Prostitution Stings Nab Dozens" in the July 29 Gazette. The story described how the Sheriff's Department teamed with State Police posing as prostitutes with salacious Internet adds for trysts at a hotel.

There is nothing new about this kind of entrapment, but concerned citizens may be getting more protective of the freedom of others, and less tolerant of government waste and intrusion.

Should tax money be used to enable the lies and trickery by the police that results in harassing and damaging the reputation of consenting adults who choose to exchange money for intimacy in the privacy of a hotel room?

Frank Wicks

Schenectady

Missing facts lead to suspicion about story

The July 30 article "Gaza Suffers It's Bloodiest Day" makes no mention of any Israeli casualties, only Palestinian, and their suffering that Hamas has created by not recognizing Israel's right to exist. Why not?

If there were no Israeli casualties, shouldn't the news article have at least mentioned it? I'm assuming it was a news article, since it was not on the opinion page.

Other possibility: Was it written for "PR" purposes to steer public support away from Israel in favor of Hamas and the PLO?

Tom Heiple

Ballston Spa

Bridge repair raises safety, liability issues

A July 28 article in The Daily Gazette reported the possibility of the Oak Street Bridge, now closed to vehicle traffic, being repaired.

Depending upon the permission of Amtrak, work could begin as early as late summer or early fall. My question is this: If for the past 13 months the bridge has, in fact, been too much in disrepair and unsafe for vehicles to pass over it, why have trains, passenger and freight, been allowed to pass under it?

Aren't tremor-creating speeding trains and 18-inch snowfalls as likely to cause damage to bridge supports as slow-moving motor vehicles? And if so, who has been liable for any accidents that may have or may still occur?